Eliminate the Negative: Tips on What to Avoid in a Job Interview

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012|

Whenever I have an interview coming up, I go through my preparation process. By the time the interview arrives, I know exactly what I want to say, at least to the standard interview questions I’ve encountered before, and I’ve prepared questions to ask – if the topics don’t come up naturally.

However, it’s also a good idea to make a clear list of the subjects you would rather not discuss, and how you will handle the situation if and/or when these topics do arise. Here are some ideas from the recruiters at Artisan Creative about things to avoid on your interview – and some positive alternatives:

Avoid saying anything negative about your former employer. Rather, plan to talk about a good relationship you had with the company and how that helped you do a better job.

Don’t talk about your personal life, even if the interviewer does. It is very easy to get caught following their lead. Try to steer the conversation back to the workplace.

Don’t talk about salary or benefits right at the start. If you’re working with a recruiter, let them discuss those items for you. They can probably get you a better package and will most likely have more experience negotiating than you do.

Don’t take credit for a whole project – even if you think it sounds better. Instead, discuss your accomplishments and how you worked with all those involved in the project. Employers like to know that you are a good at collaborating, too.

Don’t be too modest about your achievements or contributions on certain projects: Avoid statements like “this was just a little thing I did…”

Generalities when describing your work are not as effective as specifics. Use technical language and details when talking about your process.

Don’t come across like you aren’t interested in the job. Even if it’s not your dream job, you must be interested or you wouldn’t be at the interview. Interviewers can pick up on your lack of enthusiasm through body language and eye contact.

I hope you got the theme in these answers. As the song says, “Accentuate the positive!” Prepare yourself to talk about your previous employer, your experience and your hopes for working in the future in a positive light and your interview is sure to go well!Wendy Stackhouse, Consultant for Artisan Creative